NATURAL AREAS ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE AND ECONOMIC COSTS SURVEY REPORT SUBMITTED TO: All Interested Survey Respondents PREPARED BY: Rick A. Sweitzer and Blake E. McCann Department of Biology, University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND 58202 e-mail:
[email protected] July 2007 Sweitzer & McCann • Wild Pig Natural Areas Survey Report TABLE OF CONTENTS BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................1 METHODS .............................................................................................................................5 RESULTS ...............................................................................................................................7 Wild Pig Presence and Issues .......................................................................................7 Resource Damages and Visitor Interactions.................................................................10 Habitat Protection and Management to Control Wild Pig Populations ........................12 Economic Costs of Managing Natural Areas with Wild Pigs.......................................16 DISCUSSION........................................................................................................................18 Presence and Trends for Wild Pigs in Natural Areas ...................................................18 Resource Damage and Visitor Interactions with Wild Pigs..........................................19 Economic Costs Incurred from Wild Pig Damage and Removal Efforts .....................20